Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (13.10.11) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, briefed yesterday the Turkish Cypriot political parties, which are represented in the “assembly”, on the latest developments in the negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, prior to the New York summit to take place in the end of October.

The chairmen of the political parties made statements after the meeting which lasted for around three hours.

Serdar Denktas, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP) stated that his party conveyed its thoughts and reservations regarding the negotiations. He also stated that in the coming week they will be briefed by the technical committee which is conducting the negotiations. Serdar Denktas also said that during the meeting they found out the truth about the “continental shelf delimitation agreement” signed between Turkey and the breakaway regime and they realized that the “foreign ministry” was informed about it.

On his part, Irsen Kucuk, self-styled prime minister and chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP) stated that sixteen out of the nineteen meetings between the two Cypriot leaders took place and three meetings are left until the New York summit. He stated that the Greek Cypriot proposals are no different than before and claimed that the Greek Cypriots presented the same proposals after “playing with them a little”.

Ozkan Yorgancioglu, chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) stated that they were informed about the latest developments and that they conveyed their views on the issue. He went on and stated that the Turkish Cypriot side must be constructive because after the end of the meeting in New York, the UN Secretary-General will describe the role that each side played. “The Turkish Cypriot side must not be the intransigent side”, Yorgancioglu said.

Tahsin Ertugruloglu, chairman of Democracy and Trust party (DGP), said that it is not easy to say that there was a progress in the negotiations.

On his part, Mehmet Cakici, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) stated that the Turkish side is on a historic road and added: “Turkey is on a journey towards the west. As regards the Turkish Cypriots, they are in a freezing train”. He also stated that accusations against the Greek Cypriots will not help finding a solution.

He noted that many accusations against the Greek Cypriots were said during the meeting and that no solution could be achieved with this mentality.

Pointing out that a “nationalistic and racist approach” exists in the occupied area of Cyprus, Cakici noted that those, who accuse the Greek Cypriots, say on the other hand that they want a solution. “This is insincerely”, he concluded.

Finally, Turgay Avci, the chairman of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) argued that the fact that the Greek Cypriot side started oil and gas drilling is not in favour of the solution.